Marathon’s large-scale December update is rapidly approaching, and it looks to be answering every player complaint thus far.
In a new trailer for the Symbiosis update, launching on Dec. 8, Bungie teased a number of promising-looking changes to the base game, including the new Runner Shell called Bishop, an expansion of the Perimeter map that’s now being overtaken with some sort of organic overgrowth, opening up new playable areas, and more.
The main attraction is the new PvE mode, Expedition, which Bungie describes as a “co-op PvE roguelite.” Players must work together to complete objectives and fight against AI enemies without having to deal with enemy players, as Bungie answers the call for the game’s most-requested feature.
Echoing Destiny’s Tower, Marathon will also be getting its own social space, called Limbo. It includes a firing range and a spot for players to gather and hang out with friends. It looks like a good place to test out all new weapons and gear coming in the update, including the Maverick hand cannon, throwing knife, hack grenade, and flamethrower.
The playable Bishop class, meanwhile, has some sort of throwing knife, super-jump, and an ultimate where it whips out a sword and dashes through enemies to deal damage, making for one of the more unique Runner Shells available in the game thus far.
As if that wasn’t already a chunky enough update, Dec. 8 will also bring about a beta test for the Deathmatch mode, offering a more traditional PvP experience that Bungie fans will be familiar with compared to the extraction game type this new Marathon was originally built around.
This update may as well be called Project Hail Mary for Marathon, because it’s obvious Bungie has thrown its all into bringing what players have been pining for since the game dropped in March. Will it be enough? I genuinely don’t know, especially with GTA 6 set to take over gamers’ schedules everywhere.
But Bungie is looking to entice players even further with another free week, allowing full access to the game for all players from Dec. 8 to 15 (progression remains if players purchase the game after that), along with a Crew Up event offering rewards for gamers to play with their friends.
In the end, I must give credit where it’s due. I thought Marathon was a great game to begin with, but it did not click with the masses, and Bungie has done a lot to try and rectify that. I hope it works out.
